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PLATTSBURGH BARRACKS
Plattsburgh, New York

Photos by Roger Harwood

Before the US Air Force closed its base there in
1995, Plattsburgh, New York had enjoyed the reputation of having
the longest continuously occupied military base in the country.
While doing research for my books on
Fort Montgomery in Rouses
Point, New York, I discovered a fascinating document that tells us
much about Plattsburgh Barracks and conditions at the base for
soldiers shortly after the Civil War. Of particular interest for
this writer was the fact that the stone building shown above housed, not only
barracks for enlisted men, but the post hospital as well. I have
transcribed pages 63-65 in their entirety (headings, emphasis and
formatting are mine).

CIRCULAR NO. 8
WAR DEPARTMENT,
SURGEON-GENERAL'S OFFICEWashington, May 1, 1875
A REPORTON THEHYGIENE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMYWITH
DESCRIPTIONS FOR MILITARY POSTS

WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
1875

Plattsburgh Barracks

"This post is
situated on the west side of Lake Champlain, about one mile from the
village of Plattsburgh, New York, latitude, 44°41′ north; longitude
3° 38′ east; and 186 feet above the sea. The Saranac, a small river
rising to a range of lakes forty miles southwest, enters the lake at
this point. This vicinity was first occupied by United States troops
in 1812. Troops were stationed here from 1812 to 1825, from 1840 to
1846, from 1848 to 1852, from 1859 to 1861, and from 1865 to the
present [1875]. The post was established in June, 1838.(Click for map)

The
geology of the vicinity may be briefly presented as follows, the
strata being given from above downward:
1. Drift of sand and gravel, depth 25 to 30
feet. 2. Trenton limestone, 400 feet. This is the
surface rock of Plattsburgh and Lumberland [sic, should be
Cumberland] Head, and includes two varieties—one black and
close-grained, taking a fine polish; the other gray and crystalline.
3. Birdseye limestone, 50 feet. 4. Chazy limestone, 130
feet. 5. Calciferous sandstone, from 250 to 300
feet. The soil of the vicinity is sandy, and not productive unless
fertilizers are used extensively.

The post is situated on a sandy plain 25 rods from the lake and 90
feet above its level, the buildings being arranged around a square
parade of 200 feet each side. The principal buildings are
substantially constructed of uncut limestone."

The Enlisted Men's
Barracks and Hospital

"The barracks for the enlisted men were erected in 1838-'40, and
consist of a building two and a half stories high, 200 feet long
by 26 feet wide, containing eighteen rooms. On the second floor
are three large and commodious sleeping rooms for each company.
They are warmed by stoves, well-lighted and ventilated by windows,
and contain 420 cubic feet of air-space per man. Each bunk is
arranged for two occupants. A camp privy for each company
and one for the hospital are located 100 feet distant from the
barracks A capacious company kitchen adjoins each mess-room and
occupies a portion of the first floor of the building. In the
eastern end of this building, four rooms on the lower floor are
set apart for the use of the hospital department, and are occupied
as office, dispensary, ward-room, and kitchen. The arrangement
of the barracks and hospital is shown in Figure 11.

Other Post Buildings

"The quarters of the non-commissioned staff and also the
quarters of the
company laundresses, located outside of the inclosure [sic] of the
post, are three old wooden buildings, each one and a half stories
high. The first of these buildings is divided into three rooms, one
20 feet by 12 feet and two 12 by 12 feet, and occupied by the
non-commissioned staff, hospital-steward, and matron. The other
buildings toward the north, containing two rooms and two attics
each, are occupied by laundresses. A new wooden building, 80 by 20
feet, has been erected on the south side of the barracks, and 20
feet distant from the inclosure [sic]. This is occupied by four
families, affording to each two rooms 16 by 14 feet, with air-space
of 1,568 cubic feet.

The building assigned to the use of the commissioned officers is
composed of the same materials as the main building, and is 70 feet
long 25 feet wide, two and a half stories high, and contains 16
rooms. The building is erected at right angles with the main
building and 20 feet distant. In its rear is an open veranda. It is
intended for eight sets of quarters.

The
headquarters of the post is a small one-story building 24 by 18
feet. a portion of which is set apart for the purpose of a library
and reading-room for the use of the command

The
commissary storehouse is a two and a half story wooden building, 40
feet long and 18 feet wide, divided into two store-rooms and an
office.

On the
east side is a one-story building, 60 by 16 feet, used for a
carpenter's shop, with the exception of a small portion on the
western end, which is set apart for a sutler's store.

The
guard-house is a wooden building, 50 by 15 feet, and divided into
three rooms and two cells. The front room, 13 by 12 feet, is used as
a guard-room; adjoining are the cells designated for prisoners
sentenced to solitary confinement. The cells are 4½ feet wide and 10
feet long with a grated window, 1 foot square, near the top of the
wall, and a similar grating in the door for ventilation. A small
opening from the top of the cell serves to allow a part of the foul
air to escape. These cells are found to be unsuitable for the
purpose by reason of defective ventilation and bad arrangement for
warming the rooms in cold weather. Adjoining the guard-room is a
room 27 by 14 feet, used as a "lock-up" for prisoners. This
apartment could be improved by more ample ventilation.

The
hospital is in the building occupied as soldier's barracks, the
men's quarters being immediately over the sick-ward, as shown in
Figure 11. Though rather inconvenient, this arrangement will answer
the purpose for a command of two companies. The hospital is warmed
by coal-stoves and well ventilated. Two rooms, each 10 by 10 feet,
are used for office and dispensary.

The ward
contains eight beds; superficial area, 792 feet; air-space per bed,
990 cubic feet. A room for bathing and lavatory purposes has been
erected in rear of the building and adjoining the ward. The hospital
sink is 100 feet distant, and kept in good condition. This privy is
constructed on the system of earth-closets, the result proving quite
satisfactory. The substance used as an absorbent is dry coal-ashes,
(sifted,) which is regularly applied to each deposit in a sufficient
quantity, and is found to be a good deodorizer.

The
school-house is an old one-story building, situated at the northeast
corner of the post.

The
ice-house is a wooden building, 10 by 12 feet, with a stone wall 10
feet deep below ground, and frame building 8 feet high above the
surface. An ample supply of ice is obtained from Lake Champlain
during the months of January and February, and is found to be of
excellent quality.

The
library contains a good supply of the most desirable of the daily
and weekly journals; stationery and materials for writing are
supplied gratis to members of the command.

The
supply of water is obtained from two deep wells in close vicinity to
the buildings; the quality of this water is excellent for drinking
and cooking, and it is perfectly free from impurities. Rain-water is
chiefly used for cleansing clothes and habitations.

The post
is well drained by reason of being located on elevated ground and
the alluvial nature of the soil.

The
close proximity of Lake Champlain affords good facilities in summer
for bathing purposes; an in winter a bath-room is used, which is
well supplied with tubs and hot and cold water.

Fronting the western
entrance to the post is a square plot of ground, inclosed [sic] with
fence, containing about two acres. This ground is supposed to have
been originally designed for a park or parade-ground, but has
recently been converted into a vegetable garden, and cultivated for
the benefit of the officers of the post.

The
company gardens are located about half a mile northwest from the
barracks, and consist of about five acres of fertile soil, under a
good state of cultivation. The hospital garden is located about the
same distance east of the post, and near the bank of the river. It
is about half an acre in extent, and is cultivated by the hospital
attendants.

SOURCES/NOTES:

Surgeon-General's Office, War
Department. S.M. Horton, L.Y. Loring, J.P. Foote, Circular No. 8.
A Report on the Hygiene of the United States Army with Descriptions
of Military Posts. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
1875. 63-65.

AUTHOR NOTE: The
stone barracks is now the property of the Battle of Plattsburgh
Association. This important building will play a major role in
future plans for an interpretive center at the site of Plattsburgh
Barracks. More information may be found
here.

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